Flowmeters: can they be good?

[Xion X2]

Guys, forgive me if this topic has been covered. I've read through all the stickies and haven't seen much mentioned about these.

I've been shopping around for a flowmeter for my WC'ld rig that I'm building. I just bought an Aquaero and would like a way to measure the flow of my loop through the LCD panel. I was also thinking I might be able to configure the Aquaero to shut down my rig if the flow ever came to a stop. I don't know for sure yet whether or not this is possible because I'm not using all Aqua Comp. components like were in the Aquaero video, but I'm hoping it can do this.

Now I'm guessing that these can disrupt flow depending on whichever one you go with, and I don't want to seriously inhibit mine. But I would like this little perk if I could have it.

Are there any in particular that are better than others? A lot of the ones I've seen have 180-degree bends and I'd like to avoid that if possible. Seems like it would hurt flow even more. Any good ones that you could suggest for me? I'd like a good quality one--nothing plastic. All my barb fittings are going to be nickel brass and I'd like to keep everything consistent. Figured I'd have less chance of leaks that way, and for a n00bie's 1st time out, that's a good thing. :cool:

BTW, I'm using an Iwaki MD-20RZ for flow, 1/2" tubing, 1/2" fittings, a Storm and two MCW60's.

Thanks in advance.

[Ic3man]

Flowmeters are very restrictive and best avoided imo.

[Nanometer]

Good for what? Good for nothing if you ask me. For me I can just look at my res to see if there is water flow.

[septim]

unnecesary restriction of the flow meter.
a temp probe would be much better to put in a T...

[Marci]

Aquaero is relatively useless as it struggles to read above 3lpm apparently - see this thread - http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=120421

[_G_]

that pump will prob outlast any flowmeter lol

[J-Mag]

Aquaero is relatively useless as it struggles to read above 3lpm apparently - see this thread - http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=120421


What post # are referring to?

I see in the first post he says the readings are 3.5lpm and 6lpm when correlated to 7v and 12v respectively.

[virtualrain]

Aquaero is relatively useless as it struggles to read above 3lpm apparently - see this thread - http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=120421

Yes... that's my problem.

I looked at flow meters extensively... there are really three choices:

Innovatek: (http://www.highspeedpc.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=FlowMeterRev2&Category_Code=FanOmatic)

http://www.highspeedpc.com/Merchant2/graphics/00000001/flowmeter22_517.jpg

These and others like it are toy like and all of them are terribly restrictive. I purchased one and tested it and threw it out (well, actually it's still in my workshop... I'll sell it cheap! :) )

Swissflow 800: (http://www.swissflow.com/)

http://www.swissflow.com/images/SF800.jpg

This outputs a pulse rate that cannot work with the Aquaero. It may work with a motherboard fan header and Speedfan.

If you do a Google search and search some of the other water cooling forums you will find more info on this being used in water cooling loops elsewhere.

Remag: (http://www.remag.ch/vision.php?language=4&sub=1&tab=2)

http://www.remag.ch/pics/bulletin1.jpg

Let me start by saying that I don't think there is anything wrong with this flow meter... I think it's real-world impact on performance is probably insignificant.

When I inquired with the guru's at AquaComputer I was told this would work with the Aquaero so I emailed Remag and they sent me a sample for free... :p: They sent the model that has the least restriction and outputs 700 imp/l with G3/8 threads.

Upon examination, I would say it's restriction should be minimal as stated in the specs... it has an ID of 8.5mm (pretty reasonable) and uses magnetic induction so the turbine is free-wheeling.

The problem is that it does appear the Aquaero is unable to handle a pulse rate above 3lpm. :slapass: It does seem very accurate and stable below that.

Next time I have my loop apart, I will definitely test it's affect on flow. I also intend to try connecting it to one of the Aquaero fan headers and/or one of my Mobo fan headers to see if I can use the RPM sensor function of one of those headers to read the pulses from the flow meter and output flow that way.

I'll update this when I get around to it.

Safety shut-off:

With the Aquaero, you can force the computer to shutdown via hardware (it has a relay which can be patched into your power button) for any number of reasons:
- Flow Alarm (which is clearly what you were intending)
- Fan RPM or Pump RPM Alarm
- Temperature Alarm

You can also use a program like Speedfan or Samurize to shutdown the PC via software when a fan or temperature threshold is reached.

[virtualrain]

What post # are referring to?

I see in the first post he says the readings are 3.5lpm and 6lpm when correlated to 7v and 12v respectively.

This is the post where I provided the update at the bottom:

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showpost.php?p=1792814&postcount=24

Also, see this Aqua Computer forum thread...

http://www.aqua-computer-systeme.de/cgi-bin/YaBB/YaBB.pl?board=7;action=display;num=1160895252

You can see from the reaction to my OP (in the AQ thread) from one of their guru's that the Aquaero was never designed for the kinds of flow we're dealing with on this forum. :slapass:

[jaguarking11]

I can second the Remag being a very nice unit.

I also own one. Ive been using it since this January. Probably one of the first to use Remags stuff.

FYI Remag will also sell the units at a very reasonable price @ about 22bux per if bought in 20packs or so.

For view on how my flow meter is hooked up look @ the link in my sign.

@virtualrain, what pump are you using with yours? And what are your readings?

I'm scoring around 3L/min on my meter with the 50z equivalent swiftech.

how much noise does your pump put out?

[virtualrain]

I can second the Remag being a very nice unit.

I also own one. Ive been using it since this January. Probably one of the first to use Remags stuff.

FYI Remag will also sell the units at a very reasonable price @ about 22bux per if bought in 20packs or so.

For view on how my flow meter is hooked up look @ the link in my sign.

@virtualrain, what pump are you using with yours? And what are your readings?

I'm scoring around 3L/min on my meter with the 50z equivalent swiftech.

how much noise does your pump put out?

I run dual DDC Ultra's in series but both are running at 7V right now as running them at 12V nets me worst temps.

The pumps are noticably less noisy at 7V than at 12V but even at 12V they don't generate a lot of noise... hard drives are worse.

You can see more about my pump situation and the flow problems I was having by reading post #1 and #24 of this thread...

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=120421

[jaguarking11]

Get rid of the aquero.

Plug in your meter directly in your cpu fan header and register rpms. You can use speedfan and samurise plug ins to display L/m. In any case. My remag has proved quite accurate. Its registering 1980rpm - 2100rpm ~3l/min.

Also have you connected the correct value resistor between the power legs on the remag? Also are you feeding it power?

As for getting worse temps at higher flows its probably because the restriction in the loop causing allot of strain in the pump. The addition of a flow meter gives you a bottle neck that puts strain on the pump. I would try a single pump as well and see what its impact on performance is.

[Xion X2]

Thanks for the responses, guys. I'd like to do what jaguarking is talking about. That is, hooking the flowmeter up to the CPU fan header and reading flow that way.

The remag looks like a good one. Can you order just singles or must you order them in bulk? Also, it has a wierd looking hookup on it. What kind of a connector is that?

[virtualrain]

Get rid of the aquero.

Plug in your meter directly in your cpu fan header and register rpms. You can use speedfan and samurise plug ins to display L/m. In any case. My remag has proved quite accurate. Its registering 1980rpm - 2100rpm ~3l/min.

Also have you connected the correct value resistor between the power legs on the remag? Also are you feeding it power?


I have the resistor as spec'd and it's getting +5V now. I'll try a fan header which should have higher input range and it's also +12V.

[virtualrain]

Thanks for the responses, guys. I'd like to do what jaguarking is talking about. That is, hooking the flowmeter up to the CPU fan header and reading flow that way.

The remag looks like a good one. Can you order just singles or must you order them in bulk? Also, it has a wierd looking hookup on it. What kind of a connector is that?

I don't know if you can buy them in singles... perhaps do what I did and explain what you are using it for and that you intend to post a review on the internet (here) and perhaps they will send you one for free?

I have no idea what the connector is... I just soldered some wires on there and used heat-shrink. See pic attached.

Also, If you use one of these, you will need to buy some G3/8 to G1/4 adapters... I suggest getting them from here... http://export.farnell.com/jsp/endecaSearch/partDetail.jsp?sku=4250916